Method of mounting photographs and the like



and the like.

Patented 23., 1945 2,387,695 mrrnon or MOUNTING PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE LIKE George Louis Weller, In, Washington, D. C.

No Drawing. Application April 24, 1943, Serial No. 484,496

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a method for the mounting of sheet material on a backing and more particularly to a method for the mounting of photographs, drawings, blueprints, pencil or charcoal sketches, graphs, maps, rice paper prints, paintings or other sheet material onto a backing of paper, cardboard, paperboard, linen or other fabric, wood, pressed wood, plywood, glass, metal. plastic material, asbestos or other flat surface suitable for mounting or the attachment of the named sheet materialsfor preservation or display purposes. The said method is especially adapted for the mounting and preservation of old documents which are fragile and cannot be mounted satisfactorilyqby the methods heretofore in use, such as by application of adhesives containing water, or the use of paste which requires substantial rubbing onto the surface which is to receive the backing and is likely to be injured by such rubbing, or by the use of thermoplastic material which is to be heat treated to an extent likely to injure th document or to discolor or eradicate indicia thereon.-

hesive and upon evaporation of the water, the coating leaves the outer and inner surfaces under unequal tension.

Another method for themounting of photothe temperature to which the dry mounting tissue is subjected is controlled within a range of about The method hereinafter described is particularly adaptedfor the rapid and accurate mounting of photoprints on the ordinary pasteboard or cardboard mounts and remains attached for an indefinite period without curling or the raising of theedges under ordinary conditions of use. The method avoids the spotting or defacing of the edges of the mount as occurs with the use of an adhesive containing the ordinary nonaqueous solvents heretofore used in connection with adhesives for the purpose of mounting photographs Referring'to'the prior methods fonmountins; photographssketches'and the like, these methods have certain disadvantages or drawbacks which heretofore have not been successfully overcome. The method most generally used for mounting is to apply a paste or a liquid adhesive con- 25 F" as between 150 and 175;F.-, for example. In theuse of this method, the heat employed generally produces curling by drying out the gelatine coating of the photograph or print, although this may be overcome satisfactorily by the use of a heavy cardboard mount, which however is relatively expensive. Eurthermore, the use of heat in the method produces an ageing effect on the gelatine layer resulting in loss of elasticity and producing cracking when the gelatine coating has become brittle. It is ofcommon octaining water to the back of the sheet to be mounted and then to attach the sheet to the formation. It appears that the curling which 00- which takes'place at theedges because of the absorption of water by the gelatine coating of the photograph or prints from the water of the adcm is due to expansion or local contraction currence in the use of this method to have the edges of the photograph or print curl upward'so, as tobe freed from the mount to a distance of one-eighth to three-sixteenths of an inch inwardly fromthe margin'of the photographer print. Bythe useof substantial pressures on the combined sheet and mount during the mounting operation, the curling effect is minimized, but misalignment of the sheet on the mount frequently occurs, producing an inartistic and unsatisfactory result.' In the mounting of stereoscopic photographs or pictures, the inaccurate mounting of the .views prevents proper registration for stereoscopic vision in a stereoscope.- In general, it is substantially'impossible to obtain sufficient accuracy in mounting photographs and prints by the use of dry mounting tissue with the application of heat. Even with thermostatically controlledheat in the mounting operation, the accuracy in mounting is insufficient for the mounting of stereoscopic pictures and. the inability to exactly control the p sition of each of the views to be combined renders this method of mounting substantially prohibitive in this field.

Another method ,of mounting which is comm n y used is to apply rubber cement to each oi'the surfaces to-be combined and permitting the applied coatings to dry. after which thecoated are combined in the relationship. This method is satisfactory for ordinary purposes where accuracy is not required. but if the photographs or other material to be are not properly aligned when the coated prints. old documents andthe, like on a backing or mount which may be carried out with'extreme accuracy and with substantially greater speed than is possible with the methods heretofore used. oblect of the invention is to provide a method for the mounting of photographs, prints, designs, old and fragile documents and other indicia-bearing sheets ona mount or backing of paper. cardboard. pasteboard, cloth, wood, glass, metal or other flat surfaces which may be 'carried out rapidly and without the application of heat to the sheet to be mounted.

, Another oblect of the invention is to provide a method for the mounting of photographs and the like, as described. which is rapd. avoids the use of heat and in which no chemical action, as spotout. or'physicai action. as curling, or other deleterious action-takes place.

-, Another object of'the invention is to' provide a method for mounting photographs or prints on a backing in which-a dry mounting composition mayb's used with a liquid -whic'h-has no chemical or physical eifect on the gelatine or protein coating of thephotograph or print, to eiiect rapid and adherenc'efl 'thereof to the' ba'cking. object of theihvention isto provide a method rorsneimounung or photographs and the like on a suitable backin'gof' 'the character described which permits' accurate centering of the I photograph or print-upon the base or mount so as to permitthe rapid mounting of stereoscopic prints orphotographs in. aligned position for registration or superposition when viewedthrough astereosccpe. I Another-object of the in tion is to-provide a method for the mounting of'photographs and the like onamaterial in which adhesive means may beiused to prevent overflow of the adhesive beyond the limits of the-edges of the sheet or materiaito be mounted and by :which a completely mounted product isobtained immediately upon the completion or the mounting or amxing --i"- ofthe method. L

- ther obiect of thein'vention is to provide a method oqm'ountingphotographs. prints and the like whichfgnay becarried out under a variety of climatic conditions under which the materials arels'table and in which heating means.

apparatus, are not theinvention is to provide a method-fer the moim t'ing of photographs and thelike upon jawhich iriv'olvesthe' of nontdflcniathrilliwhichzhavesuhfliintiilly" no ageins 'eifect on photographic or gelatine of or printing! whichmay be'rfeadily' by a novice orimnues person with rapidity and other in vkwgthcihveh tion comprises the various features hereinafter described in detail and defined in the annexed claims..

The method of my invention is based on 6 discovery that a thin sheet of dry material, such amount of the solvent. present is so small that when the surfaces are joined. the solvent is ab- I sorbed by the fibers of the paper of the photograph or print by capillary or other action so that the usual drying is rendered unnecessary It is probable that the solvent is gradually evaporated from the photograph or print, but such action is not apparent. After the sheet of the ester has been Joined to the photograph or other sheet t be mounted, the exposed dry side of the ester sheet is treated with a small amount of solvent was to slightly wet the same, causing a superilcial solution of the polymerized vinyl ester in the said solvent, and while the surface is still damp, that is, substantially immediately, the sheet is mounted on the base material to, which it to be attached. It is preferable to use a fibrous materis! such as\ per, cardboard, pasteboard and the like mate as a base or mount, but other porous or non-porous materials may be used if desired. such as wood, leather, modeling stone, or other 35 porousstone, or metal, glass or other non-porous material.

etate, which I have fouhdhas the desired rate of solution in sheet form with isopropyl alcohol when applied thereto by means of a swab or brush so as to coat the tissue with only a thin film or layer of the solvent. The'isopropyl alcohol solvent has an advantage not possessedby other solvents for polymerized vinyl acetate, or

. partial solvents therefor, in that it does not dissolve the gelatin'coating of photographs or prints to an appreciable extent, so that spotting out or other chemical effects on the photograph or print to be mounted is avoided. Dry mounting tissue. of suitable composition in sheet form which is thermoplastic and contains polymerized vinyl acetate, such as are designed for mounting'by the use of heat, are obtainable on the market and are suitable for use in connection with the method of my invention. Dry mounting tissue containing a polymerized vinyl ester and a softening agent or substances to increase the adhesive properties, as disclosed, for example, in the U. 8. Patent No. 1,784,008, may be used to advantage in carryin out my invention, but it is to be understood that the composition-as made thereunder is not to be used in accordance vwith my invention in the manner described the patent for mounting by the use of heat and pressure, but'by the method in which a solvent is used for simerilcial or partial solution in accordance "with my invention. In this method, the superiiciai solution of the mounting tissue in the sol-' vent is sufllcient to. carry a iilm of the solvent with the dissolved solute into the interstices of the back-of the photograph or print to be mount- 'ed'so as to form a bond with the ilbersthereof.

The amount of the solvent which is used is so small that it is volatilized or evaporated from the bodyof the sheet which is to be mounted without being apparent or noticeable. As soon as the liquid solvent is applied to the other side, or exposed side of the mounting tissue, and this last treated side is joined to the face of the mount or backing on which it is to be mounted,

the penetration of the coating of the solution of the ingredients of the mounting tissue is so rapid that after the sheets are pressed firmly toaccurately mounted in order for the views toblend or superimpose in viewing through a stereoseope.

Compositions suitable for use. in .the method of my invention are disclosed also in the U. 8..

Patent No; 1,710,825, which are obtainable in sheet form on the market at the present time. It is to be understood however-,that solutions of the polymerized vinyl, ester as disclosed in the said .patent are not usable or operative in connection with the present invention, as the amount of solution which would have to be evaporated v. in proportion to the amount of solute therein would be so large as to wet both the sheet to be mounted and the mount itself and the period of time required for evaporation of the solvent would be so great as to be out of question for use where speed of operation is essential and where presses or other mechanical means for applying pressure are unavailable or undesirable. By the method of my inventiomthe time which is normally required for applying a coating or film of the isopropyl alcohol onto the dry mounting tissue or other composition sheet used and mounting the photographer print, Or other sheet to be mounted, onto the backing sheet is ample for a partial solution of the composition in the solvent to take place, and furthermore. the speed of solution of the composition of the dry mounting tissue or sheet is slow enough so that in the use of a swab or brush for applyin the liquid solvent, no substantial amount oithe composition of the tissue or sheet is' removed from the surface thereof. Also by carrying out the mounting operation in two steps bythe application of the isopropyl alcohol or solvent to the surfaces to be joined, the differences in the working speed of individual operators becomes negligible since the time required for the applica 0 e solvent and theioining or the two surfaces is substantially the same in all cases, for which the speed of solution of the dry mounting tissue composition in the solvent and the time required for the evaporation of the isopropyl alcohol or solvent from the. surface to which it is applied before the joining operation gives ample leeway or allowance. a

It is to beunderstood that the composition of the dry mounting tissue may be varied to a con- :iderable extent in carrying out the method of my invention and the composition with polymeriled vinyl acetate or ester may be varied to a considerable extent with the useof isopropyl alcohol or mixtures thereof with other alcohols or solvents in which the time of solution of the dry isopropyl alcohol having such a minor percentage of impurities or other solvents that the gelatine coating of the photograph or print remains unail'ected during the mounting operation.

For certain uses, as for mounting a painting on canvas on a backing of wood, for example, I may employ a dry mounting tissue sheet having about 30 parts by weight of polymerized vinyl acetate, 20 parts by weight of Bataviadammar, 10 parts by weight of ethyl cellulose and about 2 parts by weight of paraflln. In mounting the painting first onto the mounting tissue, the latter is preferably treated with isopropyl alcohol, or it may be treatedwith a mixture of lsopropyl alcohol containing about 10 percent of methyl abietate or hydrogenated methyl abietate, which is applied to the mounting tissue in the usual way with a swab or brush. After the painting O position without the curling of the edges or bulg- I ing of parts after pressure has been applied to fully unite the surfaces. While the painting is being applied. to the surface, the back of the mounting tissue remains suilicientl iiuid or plas-.

tie to permit slight movement by sliding the painting over the backing, or sliding parts therei of to prevent creasing or local bulging of the surface. If the painting to be mounted is large.

it is preferable to place the painting on a desk or flat surface with the painting side down and to apply suitable weights, such as a large book or the like, so as to' obtain even distributed pressure over the surface, but it is unnecessary to retain the weights on the surface for any sub-,

stantial time as the bonding takes place substantially immediately.

The method of making the dry mounting tissue by the use of polymerized vinyl acetate or other esteris fully disclosed in the patents above referred to and need not be herein described, therefore. The method of making the mounting tissue containing Batavia dammar above described will be obvious to those skilled in the art and is mixed by the use of solvents, as for example, 14 parts of denatured ethyl alcohol and 54 parts of toluol with the other constituentsin parts by weight as above set forth.

In the use of isopropyl alcohol in the method of my invention, the usual commercial form having a purity of about 99 percent is satisfactory. This material has a boiling polnt'of about 82' C.

and a'ilash point of about 14.5. C. (58.1 E).

In the use of the dry mounting tissue, as above described, it usually happens that the tissue is not the same size as the picture or print to be mounted. It is generally preferable to select a size of the mounting tissue which is larger than the pictureor print and to first moisture one side of the tissue with the isopropyl alcohol or other solvent used and then to mountjthe photograph or print on the moistened tissue. The excess of this means, stereoscopic pictures may be readily mounted and pressedinto the final aligned posi-' tion bythe use of guide lines on the mount or base, whereb the failures due to errors in alignment are substantially eliminated.

It is to be understood in carrying out the method of my invention that various changes or modifications may be made in the details of the materials used and'the mode of operation without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

. I may for example form the dry mounting tissue to be used in the method of my invention by applying the composition in the form of a solution to rice paper. or other thin sheet material not soluble in or substantially affected by the solution. The rice paper or other sheet material ma be impregnated by means of an isopropyl alcohol solution of polymerized vinyl acetate or other polymerized vinyl ester and dried, although va. more volatile alcoholic solvent is preferred;

such as denatured ethyl alcohol, for example. In the use of dried impregnated paper, in the methodof my invention, this material serves also as a partial backing and assists in the prevention of the formation of wrinkles or folds in the mounting'operatlon, and assists also to some extent it; the sliding or final shifting operation to obtain the desired final alignment, provided that the sheet has sufficient rigidity and body. The ordinary dry mounting tissue now on the market has sufiieient body-and rigidity for this purpose and may besatisfaetorily used without the necessity of forming the mounting sheet as a separate operation.

assa'oos ing a photograph or the like having a gelatine.

coating on one side thereofupon a porous backing material without the application of heat which comprises applying a thin layer of a solvent liquid containing mainly 'isopropyl alcohol to a sheet of dry adhesive material which is soluble at least in part therein to dissolve a vsuperficial layer of the said adhesive material without substantially affecting the main body thereof, applying the non-coated side of the said photograph or the like to the surface having the solvent layer thereon and Joining the adjacent surfaces without the application of heat, thereafter applying a thin layer of the said solvent liquid to the exposed surface of the said adhesive material to form a superficial layer ofsolvent containing some dis-' solved adhesive material without dissolving the main body portion of-the said sheet, applying It is to be understood, also, that various details of operation may be used in addition to the steps disclosed as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. If aphotograph or print is to be mounted, it may first be treated with glycerine or other emulsion softening agent or plasticizer, such as ethylene glycol, for example, to assist in the prevention of ageing or hardening of the photograph or print.

By the term indicia containing sheet as employed in the claims is, meant asheet such asa photograph, print, drawing, map, paintinl. document or the like.

Having thus described the invention. what is claimed-as new is:

l. A method for rapidly mounting a photothe application of heat which comprises moisone side of a sheet of dry mounting-tissue composed -mainly of a polymerized vinyl ester resin with a solvent liquid composed mainly of isopropyl alcohol having a relatively slowsolvent action thereon so as to obtain superficial solution, of a portion of the said tissue without affecting the main body portion thereof and pplyin underside of a photograph o'r'the like to the moistenedside ofthe said sheet'and pressing the adiacent surfaces together to firmly unite the same.

2. A method for rapidly and accurately "mountgraph or the like upon a backing medium without the moistened exposed surface to a sheet of porous backing material having indicia thereon for indicating the proper position'of the photograph or thelike to be mounted and immediately sliding the said photograph or the like into the desired final position with reference to the said indicia to accurately position the same and pressing the photograph or the like into contact with the said backing.

3. 'A method for rapidly mounting a photograph or the like having a gels-tine coating thereon upon a fibrous backing medium of paper, cardboard or the like without the application of heat I which comprises moistening one side of a sheet of dry mounting tissue composed mainly of polymerized vinyl acetate with isopropyl alcohol to obtain a. superficial solution of the surface portion of the polymerized vinyl acetate without affecting the main body portion thereof, applying the non-coated side of the photograph or the like to the moistened side of the said sheet, pressing the adjacent surfaces together so as to firmly unite the same, thereafter moistening the exposed surface of the said sheet with isopropyl alcohol and while still moist uniting the same with a fibrous backing medi to form a mount for the said photograph or the like.

.' 4. A method for rapidly and accurately mount ing a'photograph, print or the like having a photographic gelatine coating thereon upon a porous i backing of pasteboard, cardboard or the like without the application of heat which comprises using a sheet of dry mounting tissue composed mainly of a polymerized vinyl ester and which is substantially larger in size than the, photograph, print or the like to be mounted, moistening the upper surface of the dry mounting tissue with isopropyl alcohol solventto provide a superficial solution on the surface of the tissue without penetrating the body portion thereof, applying the non-coated side of the photograph, print or the like to the moistened upper surface of the-mount. ing tissue and pressing the adjacent surfaces to;-

gether, trimming oil the exposed areas of the sheet extending beyond the edges of the photograph, print or the like, thereafter moistening the exposed under surface of the dry mounting tissue with the said solvent to provide a superficial solution of the surface portion of the said mounting tissue, uniting the moistened ex+ posed under surface of the mounting tissue with a having reference indicia thereon v a porous backing to indicate the aligned desired position on the mount and urging the photograph print or the like into thedesired position by a sliding and. pressing movement until it is in the aligned tion.

5. A method for mounting an indicia conta ing sheet upon a backing by means of an intersaid ester thereon without substantially pene trating the main body of the said' medium and uniting the said sheet to the said backing while the said superficial solution of the ester is present on the said medium.

6. A method for mounting aphotograph, print, drawing, sketch, map, painting, old and fragile document and the like upon a backing of paper, cardboard, paperboard, linen, canvas, or other fabric, wood, ply-wood, glass, metal, or other surface, which comprises first wetting the surface of a sheet material composed of a thin sheet of paper having dry polymerized vinyl acetate be mounted to coated on both sides thereof with a small amount of a. solvent composed mainly of isopropyl alcohol to provide a, thin coating of solvent which operates substantially immediately to dissolve a small portion of the polymerized vinyl acetate coating, contacting the back of the photograph or the like with the wetted surface causing superflcial penetration and bonding action with the'material of the said back of the polymerized vinyl acetate solution and forming an intermediate combined product reinforced by said sheet material, wetting the exposed face of the said mtermediate sheet material to provide a solvent coating containing dissolved polymerized vinyl acetate andapplying the said wetted exposed face to the surface of the backing on which it is to provide the final mount therefor. GEORGE LOUIS WEHER, Jn. 

